I’m thinking about an inverter for my truck and wondering what I should know. I’d like to run a few portable power tools. Mostly 6 to 8 amp stuff but it’d be nice to run a circular saw that draws about 12 amps. Tell me if I’m crazy or if it’s not a problem.

6 replies so far

Edit : 110 Volt X 12 Amp = 1320 Watt220 Volt X 12 Amp = 2640 watt and that is what you need to come out of the inverter ... I will recoment a few extra battery´snot starter battery´s becourse they are developed to give alots of power in short time you need the other type you can draw power from over a longer period and you need a splitter on the charger cable so its your starter battery that get charged first thats how they set it up on boats if you are near a boat seller or service place they can help you out on this very easy

For a 120V saw that draws 12A running, you’ll need 1440 watts, not to mention that the draw on the battery will be 120 amps. Then add in another 20% because of inherent inefficiency in cheaper inverters, plus a MSW inverter, (the lower priced ones you’ll find) may or may not cause problems with the universal motor because of too few steps in it’s wave form, which will be expressed as heat in the motor. Then there is starting load amps that can be two or three times running amps.

I wouldn’t go less than a 2000-2500 watt inverter with a 4000 – 5000 watt surge capacity.

Also think about your alternator. Is it large enough to keep up with the amperage draw?

I install inverter, solar and generator systems as my side line and can give you a definitive answer…. your not crazy, but I caution you to educate yourself on the differences in quality inverters and cheap inverters. MSW isn’t always a drawback, after all, a “True Sine Wave” inverter is merely a Modified Sine wave inverter with more steps to it’s wave form.

I would prefer a generator if you are going to run them much. What was said above, plus I would use a RV or marine deep cycle battery as the primary connection point especially if I were gong to run the 12 amp saw.

-- Bob in WW ~ "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence

Thanks. I mostly wanted to use an electric pole saw to clear low-hanging branches on the long drive way to the shop. UPS and truckers don’t like coming in the way it is. It looks like it’ll be a lot easier and less expensive to just buy a gas powered pole saw for the shop and keep the old electric one at home.